A recently filed liquor license application confirms plans for the incoming restaurant, which will become the latest outpost for the growing local chain and its first location in Hillcrest.
For many longtime San Diegans, the address carries considerable restaurant history. The space operated for years as The Tractor Room, the original sister restaurant to Hash House A Go Go and one of San Diego's early craft cocktail pioneers. After Tractor Room closed in 2016 following a decade-long run, the property became home to Two Seven Eight, a modern American restaurant and cocktail bar that operated under several different ownership iterations before eventually shuttering.
Now the highly visible Fifth Avenue corner is preparing for another transformation, this time serving steaming bowls of pho, banh mi sandwiches, vermicelli bowls, rice plates, spring rolls, Vietnamese coffee, and other traditional Vietnamese specialties.
Founded in 2001 by entrepreneur Thi Huynh and her family, Pho Ca Dao has quietly grown into one of San Diego's most recognizable Vietnamese restaurant brands. What began as a single restaurant serving authentic Vietnamese cuisine has expanded into a collection of locations stretching across San Diego County, including restaurants in Mira Mesa, Mission Valley, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and Escondido.
Unlike many restaurant groups that aggressively expand through outside investment, Pho Ca Dao's growth has largely occurred organically over more than two decades. The company has developed a reputation for generous portions, traditional recipes, and lengthy broth preparation methods that remain central to its signature pho offerings.
The restaurant's name itself carries cultural significance. "Pho" refers to Vietnam's iconic noodle soup, while "Ca Dao" references traditional Vietnamese folk poetry and songs, reflecting the company's commitment to preserving Vietnamese culture through food.
Owner Thi Huynh has long been active within San Diego's Vietnamese-American community, serving in leadership positions with local business and cultural organizations while helping introduce Vietnamese cuisine to generations of San Diegans.
In 2022, Pho Ca Dao attracted national attention when the company deployed robotic food runners at several locations to help address industry-wide staffing shortages. While the robots assist with transporting food from kitchen to dining room, the restaurants continue to rely on traditional hospitality and human service for the guest experience.
The Hillcrest location represents a notable addition to the neighborhood's evolving dining scene. While Hillcrest has long been known for brunch destinations, cocktail bars, and international cuisine, the community has relatively few dedicated Vietnamese restaurants compared to areas such as City Heights, Mira Mesa, Convoy, and Linda Vista.
The arrival of Pho Ca Dao will bring one of San Diego's most established Vietnamese brands directly into one of the city's busiest urban dining corridors.
The new restaurant is expected to offer Pho Ca Dao's full menu of pho, rice dishes, vermicelli bowls, banh mi sandwiches, appetizers, specialty beverages, vegetarian options, desserts, and beer and wine service.
An opening date has not yet been announced.
Pho Ca Dao Vietnamese Kitchen is preparing to open at 3687 Fifth Avenue in San Diego's Hillcrest neighborhood. For more information, visit phocadao.com.
Originally published on June 16, 2026. Information first reported by Joey Reams of WhatNow.
